Purging, Breakouts and Allergic Reactions - What's the Difference?

While purging is a reaction to a new product which is ultimately going to improve your skin, breakouts do not improve by doing nothing. Purging can last up to 2 months, yet after that period, your skin improves. Additionally, an allergic reaction may occur, sometimes with similar effects. While sometimes it can be tough to distinguish the three from each other, there are specific signs.

Type	Breakouts	Purging	Allergic Reaction
Marks	​Leaves marks and sometimes even scarring	Doesn’t leave any marks or blemishes and can even heal the skin	Marks, even though rarely, can occur if reactions are regular and often
Duration	Acne can last several years	A reaction period lasts no longer than 2 months	A rash can develop within a few minutes and last weeks
Features	Tends to be more intense in certain areas of the face	Whiteheads and blackheads appear more or less evenly across your face	​Red bumps, in most cases even itchy, and appears in the area where the product was applied

Note: to avoid an allergic reaction, always patch test new products by applying them to a small area of skin first in the elbow crease, next on the face and waiting at least 24 hours. Furthermore, try one product at once to know exactly which one gave you a reaction if one were to occur.